The concept of female beauty and perfection does not come without attention given to the female breasts. With the advances of modern medical technology, a multitude of breast implant options present themselves to help. At the turn of the millennium approximately 200,000 procedures concerning breast augmentation were reported in the United States alone, which reached up to 350,000 in 2007.
Anatomy of IDEAL Implant with Double Lumen: More Ideal (Photo: www.idealimplant.com)
Recent data from an on-going trial report of better outcomes using the IDEAL Implant – a double-lumen, saline-filled breast implant. Two years from the start of the study, proponents note that this implant has lower rates of capsule contracture, wrinkling, and is better preferred by patients and surgeons alike. This is in comparison to the standard single-lumen saline-filled implant employed in breast augmentation. Data presented in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal pointed out such advantages early on in the trials.
The unique design of double-lumen implants involves the use of two lumens and multiple shells. These promote improved control of saline movement as well as providing better structural support. Double-lumen implants have less capsular contracture rates. This refers to untoward reaction of the body with the implant wherein an undesirable layer of inflammatory tissue builds up around the implant. The degree as to which this layer causes damage is reported by the Baker scale. Bakers grades III (which means firm and abnormal appearance of breast) and IV (which means hard and painful breast, with abnormal appearance) present less frequently with the IDEAL implant as opposed to single-lumen implants. Wrinkling, or the occurrence of folds in the margins of the implant, is also noted to occur less with the IDEAL implant. Deflation was also one indicator being measured in the ongoing 10-year trial.
Dr. Foad Nahai, editor-in-Chief of Aesthetic Surgery, Journal believes that these developments with the double-lumen version implants provide an important option for patients who do not wish to have silicon implants. He also highlighted that having lower rates of capsule contracture provide a definite advantage for the IDEAL implant.
Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, refers to the modification of the anatomic female breast with the use of implants to approximate the desired natural look. It may be done through various approaches – implant insertion underneath the breast is inframammary technique], behind the nipple complex periareolar complex, via the armpit or transaxillary], or even through the belly button or transumbilical breast augmentation.
Women decide to undergo augmentation mammoplasty for some arguably important reasons. It may be in order to have an increased sense of self-esteem, a higher degree of acceptance with one’s body image, and reportedly patients also gain increased sexual satisfaction. Augmentation mammoplasty is especially relevant to those patients who have micromastia – patients who were born with breasts smaller than the normal population.
It was in the 1960s when the first set of implants was made of silicone, with saline-filled implants following not long after. The techniques of implantation gradually improved and many women were satisfied. However, the industry suffered from bad publicity as a significant number of patients reported of illnesses which they allegedly obtained from having implants.
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